1) Education. Seeks to inform seekers as to what is happening between Palestinians and Israelis, issues and personalities and positions
2) Advocacy. Urges seekers to share information with their world, advocate with political figures, locally, regionally, nationally
3) Action. Uges support of those institutions, agencies, persons and entities who are working toward addressing the problems, working toward reconciliation and shalom/salaam/peace.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Churches for Middle East Peace issued the following statement:[Washington, DC- July 31, 2008]

Last week, Christians United for Israel (CUFI) convened itsannual "Washington-Israel summit" that included aday of lobby visits on Capitol Hill and a "Night to HonorIsrael." Yet despite CUFI's stated objective to supportIsrael, absent from the group's public message orCongressional talking points was any supportfor Israel's current efforts, with U.S. encouragement, tonegotiate a two-state peace agreement, an integralelement to Israel's long-term security. The three "asks" for CUFI's Congressional visits weresupport for the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act, the IranSanctions Enabling Act and providing military aid toIsrael. The words "Palestinian" or "Israeli-Palestinianconflict" were nowhere to be found in the entire talkingpoints document, nor was there any mention ofIsrael's participation in the Annapolis peace processlaunched by the United States last November.

Also missing from CUFI's message was support foror even acknowledgement of the current Israel-Syriatalks being mediated by Turkey. Instead the onlymention of Syria in the talking points was a warning tomembers of Congress that Israel's enemies,especially Syria, are "rapidly upgrading their militarycapabilities."

Commenting on CUFI's conference message,Ambassador (ret.) Warren Clark, Executive Director ofChurches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) said, "It isunfortunate that a group coming to Washington toadvocate in support of Israel would fail to supportIsrael's efforts to achieve the blessings of peacethrough a negotiated agreement with the Palestiniansand other Arab neighbors."

In a newsletter to its supporters this week, CUFIdescribed its third annual advocacy conference as anevent when "Christians from all fifty states and aroundthe world gathered in Washington, D.C. for the solepurpose of supporting the State of Israel." Yet Israel'sleaders did not receive support for their diplomacy andpeacemaking efforts. The head of Israel's Annapolisnegotiating team, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, lastDecember described the establishment of aPalestinian state as "not just a Palestinian dream - itis also an Israeli interest." In May, Israeli PrimeMinister Ehud Olmert called Israel's peace talks withSyria a "national duty." Former Israeli Prime MinisterAriel Sharon said a "democratic Palestinian state fullyat peace with Israel will promote the long-termsecurity and well-being of Israel as a Jewish state."

Christians United for Israel claims that it "unites allpro-Israel Christians in America under oneumbrella." However, there are a great manyAmerican Christians who support Israel's security andthe creation of a viable Palestinian state as essentialto that goal. "As people of faith," Clark said, "we mustnot ignore the important opportunity presented by thenegotiations now underway to help end this tragicconflict".

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is acoalition of 22 Orthodox, Catholic and Protestantnational church bodies that work together in pursuit ofa peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflictwhere two viable states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side within secure and recognized borders.